The Writer's Process

[marycatelli]

My, what an open ended topic.

First ideas.  One panelist talked of going to a busy -- not an empty -- coffee shop and get a cup.   It let him stir up thoughts that would not work at home.

Plotting out the story vs. sitting down and plunging ahead and seeing what turns up.  Some writers think about it for a long, long, long time and so pretty much know what's going to happen.  The pantsers often need to clean up the result

All agreed that you don't send it fresh from the typewriter to your beta readers.  First you let it cool, then you revise it, then you think about sending it out.

Very little that struck me as unusual and memorable.

Comments

[archangelbeth]

I deliberately skipped that one, because I know my process and other people's processes don't help, by and large.

Also, I totally post my stuff to my (filtered) LJ as soon as I finish a chapter! It's my off-site backup as much as how my few beta-readers get to see it, and if I let it sit and something happened... Eugh.

[marycatelli]

Ah, yes, such variation in the writing process.

[archangelbeth]

It's very fascinating! Even aside from the usual pantser/outliner stuff, I know one person, on LJ, who apparently writes a book, then goes and rewrites it, over and over, each draft getting closer to the desired feel. So very alien to me!

[marycatelli]

I revise drafts over and over.

Does this person start with an empty file each time or something?

[archangelbeth]

As near as I can tell, yes, she just starts over. She may re-read sections -- not sure -- but it was way more than "mere" revision.

[marycatelli]

wow

[archangelbeth]

*nodnodnodnodnod*

[marycatelli]

You do what your muse requires.

Or, of course, you don't.

[archangelbeth]

Truth! (And alas, I don't get much done if I don't do what the muse requires. Some stuff is negotiable, but there's those musely deal-breakers... *sigh*)

[marycatelli]

how true.